Veteran director Ridley Scott, known for classics like Alien, Gladiator, and Blade Runner, recently criticized the current state of Hollywood movies. He admitted that he has resorted to watching his old movies because the industry is “drowning in mediocrity.”
Ridley Scott says ‘mediocrity’ in Hollywood has led him to watch his own old movies
While speaking about his career at the BFI Southbank in London on October 5, Scott expressed his frustration with Hollywood. He stated that he believes that most of the movies in the industry today are lacking in quality. “The quantity of movies that are made today, literally globally, millions. Not thousands, millions… and most of it is s—,” he shared.
He explained how he believes that filmmakers rely too much on digital effects to cover up weak scripts. “I think a lot of films today are saved and made more expensive by digital effects, because what they haven’t got is a great thing on paper first. Get it on paper,” Scott expressed.
Scott also explained why he has found himself watching his own movies. “Well, actually, right now, I’m finding mediocrity. We’re drowning in mediocrity. And so what I do, it’s a horrible thing, but I’ve started watching my own movies, and actually, they’re pretty good! And also, they don’t age,” he admitted.
“I watched Black Hawk [Down] the other night and I thought, ‘How in the hell did I manage to do that?’ But I think occasionally a good one will happen, [and] it’s like a relief that there’s somebody out there who’s doing a good movie,” the director shared.
While reflecting on his early career, Scott recalled feeling like “a stranger in a strange land” when he first came to Hollywood to make Blade Runner, especially as an English director. Nonetheless, he described Blade Runner as “the most personal movie” he has made. He said that making it was “very hard” because it was “so different and such a new universe.”
Ridley Scott is currently working on his upcoming sci-fi, The Dog Stars. The movie will debut on March 27, 2026.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on ComingSoon.
